Don Gray, Esther Derby, Steve Smith, Johanna Rothman

You’ve spent the last few day at AYE learning how to recognize and solve problems. But, as you may have experienced, not all your problems can be solved, especially if they are part of a larger system.

Suppose, as a leader of a weekly meeting, you notice that people arrive 10 minutes late because their prior meeting ends on the hour and your meeting starts on the hour. You can manage the problem by starting your meeting at 10 minute past the hour. You haven’t solved the big meeting problem–which may be ineffective meetings, self-inflicted coordination overhead, or poor formal communication channels–but you have managed the problem with in your purview.

Other problems do not have a solution. You must find a way to cope with them (or not). For example, if you have an abusive boss, you may be able to recognize that his anger comes from his own vulnerability and let it roll off your back. But for some people in the same situation, that coping may not work. When the personal price for coping is too high, it’s time to exit.

In this workshop, Esther, Don, Johanna, and Steve will guide you through examining problems through simulations and group discussion. You will learn which approach–solving, managing, coping or exiting–may provide better results to your organization and, most importantly, to yourself.

Please join us for a full-day of exploring problems, fun and learning.

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